Can't find textframe using doc.textFrames.itemByName("myTextFrame");

[Keld294028034yyk]

In a document i have inserted a textframe and added myTextFrame into its Script Label.

When trying to get it by js using doc.textFrames.itemByName("myTextFrame"); is says the object is invalid.

When trying doc.textFrames[0] i get a textframe with label myTextFrame.

Having same issues with rectangels -> var rect = doc.rectangles.itemByName(rectName);

 

[TᴀW]

If I'm not mistaken, itemByName will get a frame according to its name in the Layers panel, not its script label.

[Keld294028034yyk]

Thx. ChatGPT isn't always right

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Keld294028034yyk

You need to iterate either pageItems or allPageItems collections - for any item - or just textFrames collection of the document and check label property. 

[TᴀW]

Philosophically, of course, ChatGPT is never right. It's just more or less lucky.

[Laubender]

@Keld294028034yyk said: " … Thx. ChatGPT isn't always right"

Well, ChatGPT would be right, if your document would be opened with InDesign CS4 (version 6.0) or below 😉

So, Ariel ( @TᴀW  ) is right.

@Robert at ID-Tasker is point on. The property you are looking for is the label property.

BUT:

To make it work with itemByName("ScriptLabelString") or item("ScriptLabelString") reset InDesign's version of the scripting environment to the one from InDesign CS4, find your text frame with item("ScriptLabelString"), store the result to a variable and reset the scripting environment to the current one.

Just tested my code with InDesign 2025 successfully that changes the fill color of all found text frames with "Yellow":

var doc = app.documents[0];
var myScriptLabel = "myTextFrame";

// Get current version of the scripting environment:
var scriptingEnvironmentVersion = app.scriptPreferences.version;

// Set the scripting environment version to the one of InDesign CS4:
app.scriptPreferences.version = "6.0";

// This could catch also MORE instances than 1 in the document:
var resultArray = app.documents[0].pageItems.item( myScriptLabel ).getElements();


// Reset the scripting environment version:
app.scriptPreferences.version = scriptingEnvironmentVersion;

// Loop the array for results to do something with the found text frames:
for( var n=0; n<resultArray.length; n++ )
{
resultArray[n].fillColor = "Yellow";
};

alert( app.scriptPreferences.version );

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Laubender

I really would like to upvote your post - but I can't... and on a lot of other threads as well - not only your replies... Is it only me? 

[TᴀW]

Looks like it. I upvoted it just now.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Looks like it. I upvoted it just now.

By @TᴀW

I still can't... Maybe tomorrow? 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Looks like it. I upvoted it just now.

By @TᴀW

I still can't... Maybe tomorrow? 

By @Robert at ID-Tasker

Nope, still can't. 

[Laubender]

Hi Ariel,

recently, maybe for a couple of hours, I also had trouble with upvoting.

It went away…

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Keld294028034yyk]

Were usually placing ICML files, but would like to test placing using xml and js script.
How do i parse formatted text into a textframe.
Our current ICML is <ParagraphStyleRange AppliedParagraphStyle="ParagraphStyle/D-OS" SpanColumnType="SpanColumns"><CharacterStyleRange AppliedCharacterStyle="CharacterStyle/$ID/bold"><Content>Nyt multiredskab sikrer ensartede græsmarker</Content><Br /></CharacterStyleRange></ParagraphStyleRange>

But we can send the content as HTML or anything else

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Keld294028034yyk

ICML is a placeable format - you shouldn't be importing is as a "raw" text and then parse. 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/how-do-i-load-an-icml-file/td-p/8773721

[Keld294028034yyk]

We do that know, but we would like to have more control over where what is placed. Creating the ICML from our CMS is a quite complex process and we cant put both content and images into the Indesign file in one flow.
We would therefor like to explore other oppotunities like opening a xml file, place content of ex. <root><textcontent><paragraph class="A-OS">Headline</paragraph><paragraph class="kommentar">Here is some <bold>Text</bold></paragraph ></textcontent> into a textFrame formatted paragraphstyle A-OS and characterstyle bold

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

We do that know, but we would like to have more control over where what is placed. Creating the ICML from our CMS is a quite complex process and we cant put both content and images into the Indesign file in one flow.
We would therefor like to explore other oppotunities like opening a xml file, place content of ex. <root><textcontent><paragraph class="A-OS">Headline</paragraph><paragraph class="kommentar">Here is some <bold>Text</bold></paragraph ></textcontent> into a textFrame formatted paragraphstyle A-OS and characterstyle bold

By @Keld294028034yyk

Why make your life so hard? 😉 

Do it in two steps - import your text - in any form - TXT with pseudo tagging, RTF, InDesign Tagged Text, ICML, whatever - then process tagged images: 

Bla bla [img]my-img.jpg[gmi] bla bla. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

[...] 
But we can send the content as HTML or anything else

By @Keld294028034yyk

If you generate text contents yourself - take a look at InDesign Tagged Text.

[Keld294028034yyk]

I would take a look into that 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I would take a look into that 

By @Keld294028034yyk

There is an old CS4 specification PDF - I think from CS4 - or you can just prepare a sample block of text - and export as InDesign Tagged Text and examine it. 

OR - if you work on Windows and want to save time and money - you could use my ID-Tasker tool - isn't free - but would resolve ALL your problems...